Harlow 4th XV 11 Cheshunt 3rd XV 5  

Merit Table

Saturday 30th January 2010

This week saw the 4th team back to its winning ways.  With some people running late, others not there, we needed to juggle the players around until we had the team sorted into some semblance of order.  The society referee had a chat to the captains explaining the usual no-nonsense stance they would take and off we went.

  Cheshunt were a slightly different team to the one that we had faced at their place.  This has become the norm recently, so we are getting used to it.  The scrums were quite evenly matched for most of the first half although Neal, ably assisted by Banksy and John Stock were able to steal some against the head.  Harlow took first blood when they kicked a penalty, Crabby stepping up and slotting it.  Cheshunt seemed reluctant to spin the ball out past their inside centre which made defending against them relatively simple.  The full back was constantly joining the back line and was trying to crash through.  Cheshunt scored their try when a simple overlap was created and over they went.

The referee had explained that he would play advantage as much as possible; Big Andy found a loose ball at his feet and playing to the whistle set off towards the try line.  The Cheshunt defence were caught watching as Andy’s deceptive speed saw him closing in to the try line.  Two defenders thought that they had prevented the score; however Andy then stretched out (Inspector gadget style) and grounded the ball.

The second half saw the game very evenly matched, neither side making much impact on the other.  Cheshunt had adopted a kicking game trying to pin us back in our half and we were unable to really breach the Cheshunt defence.  One or two little niggles started to creep in, a couple of hits were penalised as not making an attempt to tackle, more shoulder barges.  There were a few “handbags” as the referee called them.  Cheshunt had been happy to dish out a bit of rough stuff, but were not happy to get it back.  The final straw for the referee saw the Cheshunt full back off for a 4^th team rest, he accused a Harlow player of a head butt and the referee saw the tackle for what it was (no head butt).  Crabby slotted another penalty this half and was unlucky not to get a third.

The lineout had been as solid as the scrum, Barney winning all our ball and disrupting their throw.  Big Andy replaced by Ben reinforced the engine room.  Gaggy, Swampy and Aunty were constantly harassing the opposition, clearing up any loose ball.  Justin controlled the maul well and communicated with everyone very effectively.  Darryl and Rob Spinks closed down the centres and held their defensive line well.  Rob Jones out on the wing let no one get past him and Brian our new recruit had a great debut.

The game was very evenly matched; the second half saw the Cheshunt scrum pushed back and into a big heap when one of the Cheshunt players made some interesting allegations.

Comedy moments-No offence to the ref, his first spoken words were “Don’t stop for knock-ons”

The Cheshunt full-back calling Swampy “A ******** liability “as he was sent for a rest.

One of the Cheshunt players threatening to break someone’s jaw, if he did “that” again. Not sure what “that “was.

MOTM- Big Andy, best try I’ve seen in ages.  Brian, for having a great debut when thrown in at the deep end.

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